Roller skate



May 4,1937. E. .1. sHM|D+ 2,079,185

ROLLER SKATE Filed March 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ROLLER SKATE E. J. SCHMIDT Filed March 5, 1934 May 4, 1937.

drggys:

Emilie. V

Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED ROLLER SKATE Erwin J. Schmidt, Chicago,llll., assignor to Allied Engineering Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application March 5, 1934, Serial No. 714,135

12 Claims.

My invention relates to roller skates and has for its principal objectthe provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts byreason of which a much improved mounting for the supporting wheels orrollers shall be provided whereby there shall be a .greatly increasedfacility for turning or weaving on the part of a skater while at thesame time a sense of security is felt by the skater; and whereby theconstruction of the skate is greatly simplified and made substantiallycheaper and better.

To these ends, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide animproved arrangement by which the separate wheels arecontrolledindividually so as to make it possible to changev the the footplate without any reciprocal movement of any other wheel, so that thewheels are free to move as occasion may require at opposite sides of thedevice independently of each other for meeting varying conditions of theskating surface and varying conditions of skating. It is one of myobjects to accomplish this result both by reference to the mounting ofthe axle for the wheel and also by reference to the connection betweenthe axle and the wheel or roller.

For accomplishing these results, it is one of the objects of myinvention to provide an improved arrangement of bearing means by reasonof which each of the wheelsis afforded an effective side bearing on theaxle and also an effective thrust bearing in both directions, all by theuse vof two sets of bearing balls, the arrangement being preferably suchthat the wheels are enabled to swing slightly in any direction from thenormal precisely transverse position so as to bring into operation thethrust bearingfactors whereby the wheel even in such canted position isafforded full anti-friction mounting characteristics.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which Ihave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings andare hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be newand desire to cover by Letters Patent is set Fig. 5 is a vertical crosssectional view taken at line 55 of Fig. 4;, t

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the bracket by which the rear wheels ofthe skate are mounted in position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the bracket structure bywhich the front wheels or rollers are mounted in position;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the axle member shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a central vertical sectional view 1r.

through a modified form of wheel or roller mounted on the lower end of abracket;

Figs. 12 and 13. are inside face views of the lower end portions ofmodified forms of bracket, showing the axle member in cross section inposition therein;

Fig. 14 is a side view of a modified form of axle member and mountingmeans therefor;

Fig. 15 is an edge view of a supporting wheel or roller mounted by meansof a modified form of axle member upon the runner of an ice skate afragmentary portion of which is shown in cross section; and i Fig. 16 isan end view, looking toward the left in Fig. 4 or 11, showing therelation of the axle member and the parts carried thereon with respectto its supporting bracket.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, in which corresponding partsare indicated by the same reference characters, 20 indicates a front 35being formed by rolled bead portions 24 formed upon the side edges of aforwardly extending arm 25 formed integrally with the rear foot plate23. The arm 25 and foot plate 23 are provided with a long slot 26therein which registers with a slot 2? in the arm 2|, the slot 21 beingof considerably greater length than that of the slot 26 in thearrangement shown. A bolt 28 passing through the slots 26 and 21 serveswhen tightened in position to hold the front and rear foot platesrigidly in any desired adjusted position with respect to each other.

The rear foot plate 23 is provided with a sheath or housing member 29 ofsheet metal of any approved type as is usual in devices of this kind.The front foot plate 2|] in turn is provided with clamps 30 which areslidable transversely of the skate, each of the clamps at its inner endbeing provided with a forwardly extending arm 3|. Said arms 3| areadjustably connected together by means of a double screw device 32 whichhas a bearing at its middle point in a bracket 33 depending from theplate 20. The screw 32 is provided with oppositely acting screw threadsat opposite end portions so as to move the clamps inwardly and outwardlyin unison upon rotation of the screw.

The bracket means for mounting the rear wheels or rollers upon the footplate 23 is made from a strip of sheet metal stamped and pressed intoshape as shown in Fig. 6. This bracket arrangement comprises a cross barportion 34 which is ofiset downwardly at, its middle-portion. At eachend of the cross bar, the metal strip from which the bar is made turnsdownwardly in the form of an upright 35 which at its lower end is turnedinwardly providing a short cross bar 35 from which rises a secondupright 31 opposite the upright 35 but in spaced relation thereto, theuprights 31 being provided at their upper ends with outwardly turnedcross bars 38lwhich are arranged in face engagement. with the cross bar34. This bracket device is securely mounted upon the rear foot plate 23soas to depend therefrom, being secured to the plate by means of rivets39, reenforced by short armsy45 struck from the metal of. the strip andextending upwardly throughopenings in the plate 23 so as to have theirupper ends riveted thereto, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the uprights 35 and 31 comprising thebracket at each side of the skate stand at right angles to the plate 23transversely of the plate. As is clearlyshown in Fig. 1, said uprightsare in diagonal position with respect to theplate 23 longitudinally ofthe skate so as to give the brackets at opposite sides of the skate abackward trend. r

. The bracket structure provided for supporting the wheels or rollersbelow the front foot plate 20 is likewise formed of a strip of sheetmetal. As is best shown in Figs. '7 and 8, this bracket comprises across bar portion 4|, integrally formed uprights 42 depending from theends of the portion 4|, inwardly directed cross bar portions 43 at thelower ends. of the upright portions 42, upwardly directed uprights 44formed at the inner ends of the cross bar portions 43, and inwardlydirected arms 45 which engage the bottom face of the cross bar portion4|. The bracket member is secured in position upon the foot plate 2|! bymeans of rivets 46 which extend through the cross bar 4| and the plate2|], being reenforced by short arms 41 formed on the bracket member andextending unwardly through suitable openings in the plate 20 so as tohave their upper ends riveted above the plate 20 as is clearly shown inFig. 8. The mounting of the bracket member upon the plate 2!] isstrengthened and reenforced by a clip member 48, as is best shown inFig. 9, such clip member being secured in position by means of a rivet49 extending through the clip and an opening in the plate 28. As is bestshown in Fig. 8, the uprights 42 and 44 stand at right angles to theplate 20 transversely of the skate but have a slight forward trendlongitudinally of the skate as is shown in Fig. 1 by up under longcontinued hard usage.

reason of the fact that they are in slightly oblique position withrespect to the cross bar member 4| and the plate 20.

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the downward offsetting of the middleportion of the cross bar portion 34 of the rear bracket enables the arm2| of the front foot plate to project backwardly between the bracket andthe rear foot plat-e 23 and serves also to provide a rigid bearing forsuch arm 2| for reenforcing the connection between the foot platemembers. By my improved arrangement comprising the socket formed by theturned over portions 24 on the arm 25 and the support provided by thecross bar portion 34 in rear of such socket arrangement, I have provideda very strong construction which is adapted to stand By thisarrangement, the foot plates are very readily adjustable longitudinallywith respect to each other throughout a very long range.

By my improved arrangement as above described, I have provided twodepending brackets at opposite sides of the skate at each end portion ofthe skate, such brackets being oppositely disposed transversely of theskate and being rigidly connected together so as to have a mutualreenforcing effect. Each of the brackets comprises two oppositelydisposed uprights in spaced relation to each other rigidly connectedtogether at their lower ends, each bracket being in the form of a closedloop. The spaced uprights comprising each of the brackets are providedat their lower.

ends with openings 55 therethrough oppositely disposed with respect toeach other so as to receive an axle member 5| therethrough as shown inFig. 4 or an axle member 52 therethrough as shown in Fig. 8. As is bestshown in Fig. 5, the axle member 5| is flattened by the removal of metalat its opposite faces at the portion extending through the bracket,being provided with an enlarged shoulder portion adapted to limit themovement of the axle member towardthe right in Fig. 4 into position inthe bracket. This fiattened shank portion is of such length as to extendslightly beyond the inner face of the upright 31, the end portion of theaxle member being of reduced size and being provided with screw threadsfor the reception of a securing nut 53v thereon, a washer 53a preferablybeingplaced on the member 5| behind the nut 53. By reason of the slightexcess in length of the shank portion, the axle member is free to slidevertically along the upwardly elongated openings 55,. and is adapted tohave a slight angular movement with respect to the bracket. The washer53a and the nut 53 constitute shoulder means on the axle member andlimit endwise and angular movement of the axle member with respect tothe bracket. Above the axle member 5|, I have provided .a Wear plate 54of sheet metal which is preferably secured in position in the lower endof a block 55 of compressible rubber which is inserted in the loopbetween the axle member and the rivet 39. The block 55 is adapted toserve as a cushioning member for the axle with respect to the bracketserving normally to hold the axle member in its lowermost position inthebracket and serving also to afford strong resistance with respect toangular motion of the axle member with respect to the bracket. In thearrangement shown, the compressible member 55 is held in position withinthe loop by means of lugs 56 formed integrally with the bracket member.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the axle member 5| is provided with twocircumferential grooves 51 thereabout in spaced relation to each otherlongitudinally of the member, each of said grooves having roundedshoulders at its sides separated by a short cylindrical portion. In eachof said grooves I have provided a series of anti-friction balls 58 whichare adapted to'move freely longitudinally of said cylindrical portionwithout moving out of the groove. About the two sets of balls 58, Iprovide a wheel or roller 59 which in the arrangement shown is turnedfrom a, solid integral piece of metal, the hub portion tit havingoutwardly facing shoulders 6! which are located opposite the inner wallportions of the grooves 51, such shoulders 6| merging into shortcylindrical portions longitudinally of the axle member opposite thecylindrical portions of the grooves. A

cap 62 is secured upon the outer end of the axle member 5! forprotecting the outer series of balls 58, and a cap 63 is secured uponthe axle member as shown.

adjacent to the flattened portion of said member for protecting theother set of balls, 58. The arrangement is such that when the balls 58are centered in the grooves til the balls and the wheel 59 are out ofcontact with the caps 82 and 63.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the parts are of such size and areso arranged with respect to each other as to be capable of beinginserted into operative position without the removal 01 any of theretaining parts. For the assembly of the wheel and axle, the axle memberis first inserted through the central opening of the wheel from therightin Fig. l to a point slightly further to the left in said figurethan the position One entire set of balls 58 is then readily insertedfrom the left, whereupon the axle member is moved to the limit of itsmotion toward the right in said Fig. 4 for the insertion of the secondseries of balls." The arrangement is such that all but a limited numberof the second set of balls can be readily inserted from the right asshownin said Fig. 4 and such that'the last of the limited number to beinserted can be.

forced into position by the application of'a limited pressure thereon,the pressure required upon the ball last to be inserted being sufficientfor insuring that the ball will not be removed inadvertently during theoperation of the bearing. It will be understood, of course, that afterthe complete assembly of the arrangement as shown in Figgl one or moreof the balls can be forced out of position, whereupon the remainingballs can be removed without any substantial pressure there on by aslight shifting of the axle member with respect to the wheel. v I

i As an alternative arrangement, the construc-. tion may be such thatthe second set of balls to.

. be inserted may be placed in position without the application ofpressure thereto when. the axle member is moved to the limit of itsmotion toward the right in said Fig. 4,'the arrangement be ing suchpreferably thatwhen the axle member is centered in position with respectto the shoulders iii of the wheel the balls 58 will be normally retainedwithout danger of accidental removal.

friction thrust bearings for the axle member 'sition in the groove 57toward the right.

with respect to the wheel, one set of balls acting as the thrust bearingwith respect to pressure longitudinally of the axle member in onedirection and the other set of balls being effective with respect topressure longitudinally of the axle member in the opposite direction.The arrangement is such that the wheel can be tilted slightly or cantedfrom the directly transverse position with respect to the axle memberwithout having any substantial effect upon the effectiveness of thesupporting means as an anti-friction hearing, this result being attainedby reason of the fact that the balls 58 can shift slightly lengthwise ofthe axle member by reason of the excess width of the grooves as comparedwith the width of the balls. By reason of this arrangement, a skater isenabled very readily and easily to change direction and to effect whatis termed weaving in his forward movement on the skate.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 in connection withthe axle member 52 isthe same as that above described in connection with the arrangementshown in Fig. 4 except that the shoulder forming the outside wall of thegroove at the left in said Fig. 8 is somewhat higher'than that of thecorresponding shoulder of the axle member 5! above described. Thearrangement is such that it is necessary that the last of the second setof balls to be inserted must be inserted through a notch 64 at one sideof the axle member, such notch 64 being turned intoregistration with anotch 55 in the hub of the wheel. By the use of the notches 64 and 55and the more extensive shoulder formation in connection with the axlemember 52, a smoother end thrust action of the axle member 52 toward theright is effected.

- The arrangement shown in Fig. 11, is similarto that shown in Fig. 4,except that a stamped sheet metal wheel is employed in lieu of theturned wheel of the Fig. i arrangement, and that the wheel of Fig. 11 isprovided with inwardly facing shoulders in lieu of the outwardly facingshoulders ill of the wheel 59. As is clearly shown in said Fig. 11, theWheel comprises a member 65 formed of sheet metal and a second member 6!also formed of sheet metal and extending into the open end of thecylindrical portion of the member 66.

For the assembly of the wheel and axle as shown in Fig. 11, the axlemember is inserted through the wheel member 65 to a position slight- 1yfarther toward the left than that shown in said figure, and the balls 58are inserted into poaxle member 5! is then moved to the limit of itsmotion toward the right in said Fig. 11, and a conical washer 68 isslipped into position upon the axle member 5! adjacent tothe inner edgeof the groove 51 at the left in said figure, said washer 68 being ofsuch size as to be held frictionally in position. The balls 58 at theleft are then placed in position, being supported for the assemblyoperation by the washer $3. The wheel member Si is then moved intoposition within the straight end portion of the wheel member 66, and theparts are adjusted so as to bring the shoulder portions provided by themembers 66 and El into the desired relation, whereupon the edge of themember 66 is spun inwardly slightly for holding the parts strongly intheir assembled positions as illustrated.

In the arrangement shown in'Fig. 12, an axle member 69 is shown ofsubstantially triangular formation in lieu of the substantially squarefiat- The tened arrangement of the axle member 5| as shown in Fig. 5,the openings in the bracket 10 being changed correspondingly to fit.

In Fig. 13 still another modified arrangement is shown in which an axlemember H of circular form is employed, the bracket 12 being of slightlygreater width to compensate for the greater width of the axle member.

In Fig. 14 still another modified arrangement is shown, comprising anaxle member l3 which is secured by means of screw threads within asubstantially spherical nut 14 which is located between the sides of thebracket 75 below the compressible block "(5a. In the arrangement shownin Fig. 14, the axle member 73 is capable of having a slight swingingmovement with respect to the bracket, but such swinging movement islimited so as to hold the axle member in substantially horizontaloperative position during use.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 15, I have provided still anothermodified arrangement comprising an axle member '56 having a wheel orroller 1'! mounted thereon at one end and provided at its opposite endwith a clamp in the form of a yoke 18 which is adapted to fit on thelower edge of the blade 19 of an ice skate so as to hold the roller 7'!in operative position with respect to said blade. A set screw isprovided for securing the axle member and wheel rigidly in position uponthe blade. By the use of this arrangement, applicant is enabled veryquickly and very easily to convert an ice skate into a roller skatewithout in the least injuring the skate for its initial purpose. As willbe readily understood, two of the devices as shown in Fig. 15 could beemployed in connection with the blade of a skate so as to provideanti-friction support for the blade, or as an alternative arrangementtwo of the devices as shown in Fig. 15 might be used at each end of theblade, with such devices extending in opposite directions from theblade. A similar arrangement might be used to advantage in comiectionwith other slide runner devices such as sleds and the like.

While I prefer to employ the form of arrangement as shown in my drawingsand as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is notlimited thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited by theprior art.

1. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, a bracketdepending from said plate comprising two spaced uprights, an axle memberengaging said uprights near their lower ends so as to swing and to movevertically with respect thereto and having shoulder means adapted byengagement with face portions of said uprights to prevent extensiveswinging movement of the axle member, a compressible member locatedbetween said uprights and holding said axle member yieldingly in itslowermost position, and a supporting wheel on said axle closely adjacentto said standard.

2. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, a bracketdepending from said plate comprising two spaced uprights, an axle memberengaging said uprights ne-ar their lower ends and adapted to have aswinging movement and a vertical sliding movement with respect theretoand having shoulder means engaging side face portions of said uprightsserving to limit the swinging movement of the axle with respect to thestandards, a compressible member located between said uprights andholding said axle member yieldingly in its lowermost position, and asupporting wheel on said axle closely adjacent to said standard.

3. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, a bracketdepending from said plate comprising two spaced uprights and meansconnecting the lower end portions of said uprights in rigid relation toeach other, an axle member extending through oppositely disposedopenings in said uprights near their lower ends so as to swing freely inall directions and to move vertically with respect to the uprights andhaving shoulder means adapted by engagement with face portions of thestandards to prevent extensive. swinging movement in any direction, acompressible member located between said uprights and holding said axlemember yieldingly in its lowermost position, and a supporting wheel onsaid axle member closely adjacent to said standard.

4. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, a bracket in theform of a rigid loop of sheet metal depending from said plate, an axlemember mounted in the lower end portion of said bracket in substantiallyhorizontal position and movable vertically and also adapted to have aswinging movement with respect to the bracket and having shoulder meansadapted by engagement with face portions of the bracket to preventextensive swinging movement of the axle member, a compressible memberlocated in said loop above said axle member adapted to hold said axlemember yieldingly in its lowermost position and to resist verticalswinging movement of the axle member, and a supporting wheel on saidaxle member closely adjacent to said bracket.

5. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, a bracket in theform of a rigid loop of sheet metal depending from said plate, an axlemember mounted in substantially horizontal position in openings in theside walls of the loop near its lower end and movable vertically andalso adapted to have a swinging movement with respect to the bracket, ablock of compressible rubber located in said loop above said axle memberadapted to hold said axle member yieldingly in its lowermost position,shoulder means removably secured on one end portion of the axle memberadapted by engagement with side face portions of the bracket to holdsaid axle member from swinging out of substantially horizontalposition,.and a supporting wheel on said axle member closely adjacent tosaid standard.

6. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two axle members,means for holding said axle members normally in substantial alignmentwith each other below said plate in transverse position with respectthereto adapted to permit either of said axle members to move verticallywith respect to said plate independently of the other axle member and topermit either of said axle members to have a slight swinging movementfrom the directly transverse position independently of the other axlemember, and a supporting wheel mounted on each of said axle members.

'7. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two axlemembers, means for mounting said axle members normally in substantialalignment with each other below said plate in transverse position withrespect to the plate, a compressible member interposed between each ofsaid axle members and said plate adapted to hold said axle memberyieldingly in its lowermost position independently of the other axlemember, and supporting wheels on said axle members respectively.

8. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two bracketsdepending from said plate at opposite sides thereof, two axle membersmounted in substantial alignment with each other transversely of saidplate on said brackets respectively so as to swing and to movevertically with respect to the brackets, a compressible memberinterposed between each of said axle members and said plate serving tohold the axle member yieldingly at its lowermost position, means on eachof said axle members adapted by engagement with the bracket on whichsaid axle member is mounted to hold said axle member from swinging outof its substantially transverse position, and supporting wheels on saidaxle members respectively.

9. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two bracketsdepending from said plate at opposite sides thereof, a crossbar'connecting said brackets rigidly together below said plate forreenforcing said brackets transversely with respect to each other, twoaxle members mounted on said brackets in substantial alignment with eachother below said plate in transverse position with respect thereto,compressible members interposed between said axle membersrespectivelyand said plate adapted to hold said axle members yieldingly in theirlowermost position independently of each other and supporting wheels onsaid axle members respectively.

10. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two bracketsdepending from said plate at opposite sides thereof, a cross barconnecting said brackets rigidly together below said plate forreenforcing said brackets transversely with respect to each other, twoaxle members mounted on said brackets in substantial alignment with eachother below saidplate in transverse position with respect thereto, acompressible member interposed between each of said axle members andsaid plate adapted to hold said axle member yieldingly in its lowermostposition independently of the other axle member, means on each of saidaxle members adapted by engagement with the bracket on which said axlemember is mounted to hold said axle member from swinging out of itssubstantially transverse position, and supporting wheels on said axlemembers respectively.

11. In a roller skate, the combination of a foot plate, two bracketsdepending from said plate at opposite sides thereof, a cross barconnecting said brackets rigidly together below said plate forreenforcing said brackets transversely with respect to each other, two'axle members mounted on said brackets in substantial alignment with eachother below said plate in transverse posi tion with respect thereto, acompressible member interposed between each of said axle members andsaid plate adapted to hold said axle member yieldingly in its lowermostposition independently of the other axle member, shoulder means on eachof said axle members comprising a nut removably secured on one endportion of the axle member adapted by engagement with side face portionsof the bracket on which said axle member is mounted to hold said axlemember from swinging out of substantially horizontal transverseposition, and supporting wheels on said axle members respectively.

12. A mounting means for a roller skate comprising in combination across bar formed of a metal strip, and two depending brackets formedintegrally with said cross bar at its opposite ends each in the form ofa closed loop extending downwardly in substantially right angularposition with respect to said cross bar longitudinally of the bar but inoblique position with respect to said cross bar transversely thereof.

ERWIN J. SCHMIDT.

